Hey, Hey, you're reading the People's News and Rumors here at The People's Wrestling Website, TPWW.NET. A lot of news to cover today from a preview for tomorrow's Fully Loaded pay per view to some news on several WWF superstars in the process of recovering from injuries.
I guess I'll start with some WCW news for today, and there's a few tidbits out there, so let's start off with a couple of things, we can expect on Monday's Nitro...
WCW Champion, Booker T will be in the house on Monday live from the CSU Convention Center in Cleveland, and like every week, the usual high ranking contenders will be gunning for the champ. Whether it be the Chosen One, Jeff Jarrett, Bill Goldberg, or Scotty Steiner, expect Booker to have a a large bull's eye around his waist, and it's his WCW World Heavyweight title.
Another Champion will be at Nitro, and it will be none other than the WCW United States/Canadian Heavyweight Champion, the man from Calgary... Alberta, Canada, Lance Storm. Since turning a new leaf (or would that be a new mapleleaf), Storm's Canadian Nationalist persona has gotten Lance over huge as a heel, but I don't get why the fans are booing Storm, as he's speaking the truth to some extent about Canada and the wrestlers that are Canadian born.
Two matches have been announced for Nitro, as we'll be seeing a mixed tag match between Ms. Hancock and her beau, David Flair against MIA members Major Gunns and WCW Cruiserweight Champion, Lieutenant Loco in a preview of the Hancock/Gunns ROTC match up at NB Rising. Also on tap for 'Tro, two former ECW World Heavyweight Champions, as the Franchise, Shane Douglas takes on the Awesome Fat Lady Thriller, Mike Awesome.
Also on tap for Nitro, Vampiro, the ICP, Hardcore Champ, Big Vito, The Tag Champions, Adams and Clark, Kronic. WCW.com also reports that WCW's version of the Hell in the Cell, Caged Heat will play a big part of Monday's Nitro.
Scary Statistic here from Zach Arnold over at the Wrestling Observer as WCW's House show on Thursday night in Toledo, Ohio only drew about 700 paid with WCW giving over a 1000 free tickets or so to increase the crowd. Now, if WCW didn't think they had a problem with House Shows, they definitely do now.
The WCW Canadian Champion, Lance Strom updated his commentary at his website, StormWrestling.com... Lance takes a look at the events that went down on and off the camera on Tuesday night when Lance won the WCW United States Title Tournament to win the US title. Definitely an interesting read, and I'd really advise all of you to check it out.
Moving onto the World Wrestling Federation, the first WWF tidbit of the day involves Thursday's Smackdown and it's rating courtesy of Dave Scherer. Smackdown did a 4.4 which is .4 higher the previous week's, definitely a solid Smackdown as the WWF put the final touches on the Fully Loaded hype, nothing spectacular on the show but than again, nothing horribly bad.
Congratulations go out to the one, the only, The Phenom, The Undertaker as according to WWF.com, The American Bad Ass got married on Friday. Great to hear, but is it me, or why do I doubt that WWF.com would report that if 'Taker was still the "Lord of Darkness?" I guess it's just to further the Humanization of characters like the Undertaker and Kane.
Couple of notes from Jim Ross's weekly Ross Report before I get to my Fully Loaded preview/predictions...
- DX's Green Goddess, Tori underwent shoulder surgery on Thursday, and according to Jim, it took a bit longer than expected but it was a success. Expect Tori to be back at 100 percent in about 3 to 4 months as the fall comes to an end, and we stagger into the winter months.
- Some news on Hardcore Holly, as Ross reports that Bob had a smaller cast put on his broken arm (suffered at the hands of a Kurt Angle moonsault) as the cast extends from Holly's hand to a little past his elbow. JR expects that Holly will be back on TV in a couple of weeks as he arm continues to heal.
- Finally on the Injury update, Ross confirmed that Mr. Ass, Bill Gunn has been cleared to return to in ring action in late September. I don't know why, but I really don't miss the Bad Ass that much for some reason or another since he's departure due to his rotator cuff injury in February.
Three WWF media appearances notes from Ross...
- First, one half of the WWF Tag Team Champions, Edge will be hitting the big screen on September 1 in Highlander: End Game, as Adam Copeland (Edge) plays the part of Lachlan. Wouldn't be surprised to see Edge and Christian use Edge's part in the movie as a part of their promos or even as a 5 Second Pose.
- The Rock, Triple H, and Chyna will all be on the E! network this weekend on E!'s News Weekend program to promote Sunday's Fully Loaded Pay Per View. E! News Weekend airs throughout the weekend, so check you're local listings for time and station.
- The Charismatic Y2J, Chris Jericho will be going down to the Bahamas sometime next month to film a Chef Boyardee commercial ... This is a definitely a sign that Chris is on the road to greatness, as several amazingly popular main eventers such as Mankind, The Rock, and the Big Show have all been apart of Chef Boyardee commercials.
- JR put Fully Loaded over huge during his weekly commentary, and like Ross, I expect Fully Loaded to be a hell of a show with just the Triple Main event alone, and the undercard will surely add to the show... I definitely think Fully Loaded to add to the list of several amazing WWF PPVs in the year of 2000.
Moving on to some Fully Loaded news, as if you order Fully Loaded tomorrow night, you can send your cable or satellite bill in to the World Wrestling Federation, and receive the Interactive CD Rom, Encly-RAW-Pedia for free.
Finally, we get to something that I haven't done in a while here at TPWW, WWF Pay Per View predictions. I've never been exceptionally great at predicting WWF PPV's but I'll give it a try for today's edition of the N&R...;
WWF World Heavyweight Title
The Rock vs. Chris Benoit
As much as I would love to see Benoit go over the Rock at the PPV, I in no way can picture Chris Benoit actually defeating Rock for the WWF unless some sort of a run in ending occurs to help the Crippler win the strap.
Winner: The Rock
Last Man Standing Match
Triple H vs. Chris Jericho
Really tough match to call here, as I can see both men winning here. But since Y2J had the advantage over the game after Smackdown went off the air, I'm going to have to go with the old idea, that whoever has the advantage at the last show prior to the PPV loses, so I'm going with the Game here with a little help from his friends.
Winner: Triple H
The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle
The American Bad Ass versus the American Hero, now I don't know about you but I prefer the Hero over the Bad Ass, and I can't see Angle losing here, and that my friends is true.
Winner: Kurt Angle
WWF Intercontinental Title - Steel Cage Match
Val Venis vs. Rikishi Phatu
Very Very tough match to predict here, but I seeing the WWF giving Venis a huge heel push, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Rikishi on the verge of a turn, so I'm going to toss the ol's coin in the air and the winner is...
Winner: Rikishi Phatu
WWF Tag Team Title Match
Edge & Christian vs. The Acolytes
Edge and Christian are to over as heels to lose this match up, while the Acolytes who are popular in their own right aren't ready to take the step to the tag titles. Don't see E&C; losing the titles just yet, maybe at SummerSlam to their arch rivals, The Hardys.
Winners: Edge and Christian
Tazz vs. Al Snow
Two Words: Choke Out
Winner: Tazz
Hardys and Lita v. T&A; and Trish Stratus
Trish and her boys have had the upper hand on their opponents for a week or two now, thus I'm seeing Matt, Jeff, and Lita taking this one.
Winner: The Hardys and Lita
Well, that's about it for today... We have some great updates today including Corey Silvia's Jerichoholics Anoyumous which is without a doubt one of the best columns on the 'Net like all the columns here at TPWW.Net. Well, that's about it... I'll probably be back either Monday or Tuesday after I go probably 3 for 7 on Fully Loaded Predictions, Ciao...
Big Ry
BIGRY214@aol.com